Forrest Gregg's Parkinson's fight continues

Green Bay --- One year later, Forrest Gregg's Parkinson's condition has not changed.

And that, he says, is a victory.

“If I go to the doctor and he can keep things on the same level that it was, that’s a win," Gregg said. "And I’ve been able to do that. I’ve been able to keep my eyes on the prize.”

Last year, we caught up the Pro Football Hall of Famer in Colorado Springs. The man who played 188 consecutive games has attacked Parkinson's head-on through regular exercise and a distinct resolve. In the process, he's now trying to raise more widespread awareness about the disease and everything it entails. As Gregg said at his home back then, Parkinson's disease runs deeper than a hand tremor. It can affect memory and overall fatigue.

So now, Gregg has teamed up with "More than Motion" on Facebook to further tell his story. Through a series of videos, he hopes to show people how they can combat the brain disease without a cure.

By staying active, he's been able to prevent his Parkinson's from worsening, from controlling his life. The vivid dreams of running, blocking and hitting -- dreams Gregg would act out in his sleep -- have receded, he said.

Overall, his spirits are still high.

“I’m not too different than what I was," Gregg said. "I’m not having the bad dreams like I was. But I do suffer from fatigue. I do have trouble with memory. And I still have this tremor. But one thing the doctor told me the second time I went to see him — he compared the first meeting with the second — he said, ‘You’re not any different than you were six months ago when we talked.’ He said, ‘If you can stay even with this thing, you’re making progress.’ So I have to just continue to work and do the exercises for the physical part of this, for the balance.”

That's the message he's trying to spread. By staying active, such as walking the trails of a park nearby in Colorado Springs, he has slowed the symptoms.

“There’s more than motion involved here," Gregg said. "There’s the dreams, fatigue, trouble with memory, that type of thing. There’s more to it. You can suffer from any one of those things and still have the disease. We’re just doing what we can to make people aware.

“Some people don’t know they have it. There may be some people out there who have doubts. I would suggest that if they do, to see the doctor.”

At 79 years old, Gregg's fight continues.

“Your attitude is a big part of it," Gregg said. "You have to keep up your spirits and I have a pretty good support system — my family, my doctor, physical therapist. They work with me.”

Gregg has been a realist through it all. He knows Parkinson's is a "slow-moving," unrelenting disease. As he said, he may not be "winning" today, but he is "staying close."

If he fights, he hopes others will as well.

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.